Improvement in sheet-delivering apparatus for printing-machines



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S. D.-TUUKER.- Sheet-Delivering Apparatus fprPrin'ting-Maohines.

No. 197,693. 1 Patented NOV. 27, 1877.

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14 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. D. TUCKER. Sheet-Delivering Apparatus for Printing-Maghlne s.

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-S. D. TUCKER. .Sheet-Delivefing Apparatus for Printing-Machines. No. 197,693. Patented Nov". 21,1877.

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N-PETERS. PHOTO LI1MOGRAPHEFL W tSNINGTON. D C,

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S. D. TUCKER.

Shet-Deliveriflg Apparatus for Printing-Machines.

No. 197,693. Patented Nov. 27,1877.

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Sheet-Delivering Apparatus for Printing-Machines.

No. 197,693. Patented Nov. 27, 1877.

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Sheet-Delivering Apparatus for Printing-Machines. 4

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No. 197,693. Patented Nov. 27,1877.

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N.FETERS. PHOTO-UTMIJGRAFHER,WASHINGTON. D Cv No. 197, 93 I S. D. TUCKER. Sheet-Delivering Apparatus for Printing-Machines.

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Patented Nov. 27, I877.

N. PETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C

Inventiv- Stephen 0. Tu: ea-

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v S D. TUCKER. S'heet-Deliyering Apparatusvfor Printing-Machines.

No. 197,693. Patented Nov. 27; I877.

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Patented Nov. 27', I877.

NPETERS, PNOTU-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

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, Sheet-Delivering Apparatus for Printing-Machines.

No. 197,6 3. Patented Nov. 27, 1877.

YflLZ'n-esses \xuinvm'fx v V A ala UNITED STATES PATENT Quai on. v

STEPHEN D. TUCKER, OF NEW YOR K,'N. YL

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-DELIVERING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent'No. 197,693, dated November 27, 1877; application filed November 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. TUCKER, of the city,'county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Delivery Mechanisms for Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

'In the drawings illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation. Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevation, Fig. 3 is a front-end elevation. Fig. 4 is a rear-end elevation. Fig. 5 is a plan, and Fig. 6 an elevation, illustrative of the sheet lifting apparatus. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the folding and re-. ceiving rollers, and Fig.8 aloft-hand end view of the gearing driving the same. Fig. 9 is a view of a portion of the-apparatus with the devices adjusted to perform the operation of gathering. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken through the carriers 60 30. Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the griper-cams detached. Figs.

13, 14, 15, and 16 are diagrams showing the operation of the rotary folders. Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20 are longitudinal sections, showing the mechanisms in different positions, and illustrating theiraction in the operation of folding both single and double sheets. Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section, showing a mode of attaching the apparatus to 'a web-perfecting printing-press, and providing it-with a pasting apparatus. Fig. 22 shows a rear elevation of said pasting apparatus, taken on the line a a of Fig. 21, and a plan view of the driving-train; Figs. 23, 24, and 25, modifications wherein a vibrating switch and gripers are arranged totransfer the sheets from one cylinder to the other; Figs. 26, 27, and 28, a further modification, wherein the carriers 60 and are of the same size, and arranged so as to deliver sheets direct from one to the 35,a further modification, wherein the separated carriers 30 are of the same size, and have a sheet-conducting mechanisminterposed between them. Figs. 36 and 37 are longitudinal sections, showing a modification of the carrier 30. v I v 7 The invention relates to the delivery mechanism of printing-machines; and consists, essentially, in an apparatus provided with a mechanism for gathering or accumulating sheets, and with a mechanism for folding sheets, which mechanisms are so arranged and combined that the apparatus may operate, first, to accumulate any desired number of sheets and deliver the same fiat as a single pack; second, to fold each successive sheet; third, to accumulate two or more successive sheets and fold the same one within the other as a single pack.

Various constructions and combinations of these accumulating and folding mechanisms, as well as devices auxiliary thereto,- are embraced in the invention, as is also a mechan= ism whereby successive sheets are controlled,

so that one maybe stopped at one point and a second at another point over folding-rollers, and the two simultaneously doubled through the same by a folding-blade, all of which will be particularly hereinafter pointed out and distinctly claimed.

This apparatus, though it may be fed by hand, is designed to be connected with a printing-machine, its operation being-toreceive the sheets and dispose of the same as rapidly as they are printed and givenz off from the printing-machine, and to automatically deliver them in a flat or a folded condition, as may be desired. It is, however, especially adapted for operation with a web-perfecting printing-machine, being so-organized as to. be capable of great rapidity in its operation, thus having a capacity equal to that of such printing-machines as produce many thousand sheets per hour. 1

The mechanism illustrated for gathering or accumulating the sheets consists of a carrier and auxiliary devices for directing two or more sheets thereon and delivering the same in a single body therefrom, which carrier may also operate to receive and deliver; sheets singly, as will be explained. j

The mechanism illustrated for folding the sheets consists of a rotating carrier, which supports one or more rotary folders, and has auxiliary means for conveying the sheets between said rotary folders and cooperating devices, and for actuating the rotary folders, as will be explained.

Both of these mechanisms may, however, be of different constructions, as will hereinafter appear.

The accumulating-carrier 60, of cylindrical form, as herein shown, is mounted in the frame-work at the entrance end of the apparatus, and is provided with a toothed wheel, 61,

by which it is geared to a similar whee1,62,; fast on the shaft of the rotating carrier 30.

Rotary motion is imparted to these carriers 60 30 by means of atoothed wheel, 63, made fast upon the shaft of the carrier 60, and geared with the toothed periphery of a cam-wheel, 64, which derives motion from a driving-pinion, 65. This carrier 60 is furnished with a set of tapes, 40, stretched over rollers 41 '42 at its upper side, with a set of tapes, '43, stretched in grooves in said rollers and carrier 60. 7 Theiroperating mechanism consists of a rock' arm, 89, and a rod, 90, which is bifurcated to straddle the shaft 80, and carries a stud or'frictionroller, entering the cam-groove 81 in the camwheel 64.

The space between the rollers 41 47 constitutes another point of delivery of the sheets from the carrier '60,.where the gripers of the said carrier release the sheets and the gripers of the carrier'30seize them, which operation will behereinafter explained; This carrier 60 is also; provided with a set of gripers, 5, fast upon a shaft hung in a recess running longitudinallyaherein and near its periphery, which gripers are held closed by a spring-seated rod, 88, connected with their rock-arm. They are operated at the proper time to receive the-incoming sheets by means of a stationary cam, 31, fast to the frame-work, and at the proper point to release the same for delivery to the fly-frame 49 by the stationary cam 8, and they are also opened to release sheets for delivery to the gripers of the carrier 30 by the arm 26 of a rocking cam, 98, when the same is properly i adjusted, as will be explained, which movements of said gripers are accomplished by means of a stud or frictioirroller, 2, carried by their rock-arm, which, as the carrier 60 revolves, impinges against these cams 31 S and camarm 26.

The point of entrance for the sheets to this carrier 60 is between the rollers 42 44, where .2 on the rock-arm'of'the gripers 5. Said grip-'- ers will then be operated by the cams 31 8 only. This adjustment of the rocking cam 98 is effected by means 'of a screw, 9, which, pro-' truded through a hole, 102, in the side frame, enters a hole, 160, Fig. 12, in said cam, which is dropped into its lowermost position to receive said screw.

With the mechanisms thus adjusted, this carrier 60 will operate to receive a sheet between its surface and that of the roller 42, where, being nipped by the tapes 40 and gripers 5, it will be drawn onto the surface of the carrier andtravel around with'it, The gripers 5 will be operated at the proper timeby the cam 31, to open and seize the leading edge of the sheet thus entered upon 1 the carrier, and, clampin g it thereon, carry it around with said carrier. When one reyolution of this carrierhas been efiected the gripers 5 wil l again be opened to receive the next incoming. sheet,

and closed to clamp ,its leading edge upon that of the first, and during the s'econd'revolution of the carrier the second sheet will be laid on the first upon the carrier, and the two thus accumulated. Though the gripers 5 are opened by the cams 8 and 31 during each revo- This operation may be repeated until three,

four, or any other desired number of sheets are received and accumulated upon this carrier, which number (four in the present instance) is determined by the proportion of the toothed wheel 63 to the cam-wheel 64. 'When the. predetermined number of sheets have thus been accumulated, the cam-groove 81 of the camwheel 64 will, through the rod 90, rock the toes of t-he'switche's 32 into the grooves of the carrier 60, as in Fig. 10, in which position they intercept the leading edges or heads of the sheets, which 'are released from the gripers 5 at this point by means of the cam 8, and guide the same in 'a single body oil from said carrier, directing them over the roller 48, with which the front' edges of the switches coincide, and down before the fly-frame 49, which may be vibrated by any common mech-j anism, to deliver the sheets in a single mass and flat upon a piling-table. When the tails of these sheets pass off from the carrier 60,

the switches 32 will be automatically returned totlie'position shown in Fig. 9, and the operation repeated. i i

r The barrier 30, as illustrated in Sheets 1 to 10,12, and 14,"isof twice "the diameter of the accumulating-carrier 60, and is provided with two sets, 4 and 6, of gripers, whereby it is retrace.

adapted to carry two sheets upon its surface, and with two rotary folders, 107 108, each having, respectively, two folding-blades, 14 16, 24 25.

i The gripers 4 6 are mounted upon shafts set in recesses at opposite points in said carrier, and are held closed by means. of spring.- seated rods 50 51, fast to. crank-arms which carry studs or, rollers 52 53. These gripers are opened to receive the sheets by means of the arm 54 of the cam 98, with which the studs or rollers 52 53 of thei'rcrank-arms come into contactwhen said cam is in. proper position, as in Sheets 1, 6, and 7 and these, gripers are opened to release the sheets by contact of said: studs or rollers with the stationary cam 55, Sheetsl and 6.

The rotary folders107 108 are hung upon shaftsjournaled in the heads of the carrier 30, occupying recesses cut atv opposite points in said carrier, which shafts project beyond one head of the carrier, where they are provided Z of a revolution, and the gripers 6 will, in'their :turn, have received a sheet from the carrier .60, as in Fig. 16, which sheet, during the next half-revolution of the carrier 30, will be manip.-. .ulated as was the former.

with arms carrying studs or rollers 10 12 1315.

Said folders are caused tomake semi-revolve.

tions, and thus to alternately protrude the fold. ing-blades 14 16 or 24 25v beyond the carrier, and between the folding rollers 66. 67 by means of flying-cams. 17 18 and a station- V ers 66 67 emerge therefrom once folded, and Emay be carried by tapes or other conducting rnechanism to a piling-table, or may be delivered to mechanisms for imparting to, them 1 one or more'additional parallel or cross folds.

ary cam, 19. These flying-cams are upona common shaft, which carries a toothed wheel, 20, meshing with a similar wheel, 21, fast upon the shaft of the rotating carrier 30, and. they are thus constantly revolved in unison, and

make equal turnswith the carrier 30, but in a preferable, in consequence of the high speed .at which this apparatus is adapted to. run, to

convey the once-folded sheets to separate folding apparatuses.

contrary direction. The stationary cam 19v is fastened to the side frame, as in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to co-operate with the flying-cams, as will presently appear.

The folding-rollers 66 67, which are placed at one side of this rotating carrier 30, are geared together by toothed wheels 136 .137,

, fast to their right-hand ends, and are driven in unison with the carrier 30 by means of the toothed wheel 137, which meshes with the toothed wheel 62, which is fast upon the shaft of. the carrier 30. (See Figs. 4, 7 and 8.)

Thus equipped, a sheet received upon this carrier 30, and clamped thereon by means of the gripers-,say 4, as in Figs. 13, 14-.-.-will be laid upon its surface and carried around with said carrier. During a part rotation of this carrier, the center of the sheet will have been moved nearly in front of the folding-rollers 66 67:, and the flying-cams 17 18 will have so far rotated in an opposite direction as to bring oneof themfsay l7 into proximity to. the lower part of the femalecam 19, in which po sition it will meet the stud or roller 10 on the forward arm of the rotary folders 10.7, and cause it to follow against the curved surface of said flyingcam 17 and that of the lower part of the stationary cam 19, as in Fig. 14. These movements. proceeding, the flying-cam will. form, in connection with the lower part of the stationary cam, a channel or way, which guides the roller 10 into the lowermost part of said stationary cam, thus rotatin g the folder107,

and projecting one of its blades, as 14, beyond the periphery of the carrier 30, and between the folding-rollers 66 67 as in Fig. 15. The gripcrs nipped by the folding-rollers 66 67, and carried through them by their rotation as the carrier continues to revolve, during which movements. ithe. point of the flying-cam will pass the inner side of the stud orroller 10, and form, in con; 5 junction. with the upper portion of the stationary cam, a channel or way, which will guide the said stud or roller rearward, and

cause it to move said folding-blade inwardly, {as in Fig. 16, until it reaches its position within the recess in the carrier, where a spring,

i 82, holds it in place ready to be again actuated F by the cams. Y

The carrier 30 will thus'have made one-half The sheets carried through thefolding-roll- If these sheets are to be again folded it is One mode of effecting this is illustrated. It

extends from the folding-roller 66 to the re-.

.ceiving-roller 56, and the latter from the fold- ;ing-roller 61 to. the receiving'roller 57 which plates may, if desired, have two entering grooves in said rollers.

of these conducting-channels are formed bya switch, 36, consisting of two plates attached,

The interior members at nearly right angles to each other, upon arms 38, fast upon. a shaft, 39. Thisshaftis rocked by means. of an arm, 68, anda connecting-rod, 69, which is bifurcated to straddle the shaft 80, and carries a stud or friction-roller, enteringthe groove 71 in the cam-wheel 64. This switch 36 will thus bemoved sothat its point is nearly in contact with one or the other of 7 3, which run out over pairs of folding-rollers 74 14-1, through which, by means of a vibrat ing, folding-blade, 75, a, second fold at right angles to the first may be imparted-tothe sheets. i 4

One such folding apparatus only isillusf,

trated, the second, with which the upper tapes 72 73 connect, being its counterpart, and, lo-

cated at a distance beyond the same, is not end of the shaft of the lower folding-roller 67,

(see Figs. 1, 7, and 8,) which toothed wheel 3 gears, through an idler, 70, with a toothed wheel, 37 on the shaft of one of these receiving-rollers, said rollers being geared together by to'othed wheels 76 77 on their righthandend, so as to revolve in unison. The gearing is such as to reduce the speed of said receiving-rollers to about one-half that of the folding-rollers 66 67.

The folding -blade is mounted upon a shaft, 83, to which motion is imparted by means of a rock-arm, 84, held in constant contact with a cam, 85, by means of a spring, 27. This cam is fast upon a longitudinal shaft, 86, which latter is drivem by bevel-wheels 78 79, the latter of which is fast upon the end of the main shaft 80, and the folding-blade 7 5 is thus caused to make one stroke to each second revolution of the rotating carrier 30.- v 7 The folding-rollers 74 141 are upon common shafts, geared together so as to run in unison, and driven by meansof a toothed wheel, 11, carried ,by one of their shafts, and a train of gear'wheels, 159, connecting with a toothed wheel, 29, mounted on the shaft 86. V

The shaft carrying one of each of these pairs of folding-rollers 74 141 is arranged so as to move toward and from the shaft carrying the companion rollers, and is acted upon. by the springs 28. These folding-rollers are thus elastically seated, and thereby adapted to'allow the passage of thickly-doubled-up or badly-folded sheets, whereby clogging or othe ineffective operation is avoided.

Motion may be imparted to the receivingrollers, to the vibrating folding-blade, and to the folding-rollers 74 141 by other means than is shown herein, and the means for actuating these mechanisms will be duplicated with respect to the receiving-rollers 56 5S,and the mechanisms to which they conduct the sheets. Any. mechanism for connecting this apparatus with a printing-machine, whereby the product of the latter may be directed into it,-

may be employed. One such mechanism is shown in Fig. 21. i v 7 v p The cutting-cylinders 109 110 therein illustrated are supposed to be at the delivery end of f a web-perfecting? printing machine, and they are geared together, and also to one of the driving toothed wheels of the printingmachine. Motion is imparted to the carrier 60 by a trainiof gear-wheels 119 120 121 from the toothed wheel on the cutting-cylinder 110., ,By this arrangement of gearing the carrier 60, cuttin gcylindcrs 109 110, and the printing-cylinders (not shown) are caused to run turn for-turn with each other. i

The roller 42 is removed and the tapes 40 are extended to run over rollers 111, situated near the cutting-cylinders. A fourth set of tapes, 116, are also stretched from aroller, 117, situated at the rear of v the roller 44, to a roller, 112, situated below the rollerlll. These tapes are run in unison by means of ,gearwheels which connect therollers 111 112 together, and are driven by the roller. 41, which is geared to the toothed wheeli 61, as before described. They serve to receive thelsheets from the cutting-cylinders and to conduct the same tothe gripers of the carrier 60. The cutter 118 will generallybe arranged to partially sever the web, though it may completely divide it, and as the carrier 60 is somewhat larger thanthe cutting-cylinders, it follows that when the end of the web is seized by the gripers and the nip of the tapes 40 on the carrier 60, its speed will be accelerated, whereby the web will be separated at the line of partial severance to form asheet, which sheet (or one formedby the complete cutting of the web by the cylinders 109 110) willbe carried onward rapidly enough to separateits rear end fromtheibrward end of theweb or suc ceeding sheet,as at 158. Thus sheets delivered to the carrier 60 will be separated a dis.

tance apart,whijch provides ,a space between the heads and tails of the sheets, whiehspace between such as are accumulated: upon the carrier .60 is occupied by the gripers 5, and

One such pasting apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 21, 22, and consists of a revolving paste blade, 172, that alternately comes in contact with a slow-running roller, 173,in the ;paste fountain 177, to receivea charge of paste, and with, say, the center margin of a fast-running sheet, to which the paste isapplied, and the motion of the paste-blade should coincide with the speed of each of thesecwhile in contact with them. To effect this the paste-blade shaft 175, to which the blade is attached by means of the arms 178, is driven by the wellknown differential movement. in which-the axis of the driver, which, in this case, is the Wheel 1239, is-placed parallel with, but eccentrically to, the axis of the driver, which is the pasteblade 172. As paste is to be applied only to the alternate sheets, the paste-blade need make but one revolution to each second sheet that passes; and this is effectedas fol lows: The train of -wheels,115 119 120 121, which connect the cutting,- cylinders with the carrier 60, are all of the same size as the carrier, and runturn for turn with it, and, of course, their peripheries travel at the same speed as the periphery of the carrier, and the sheet which it grasps. The wheel 120 is fixed on the shaft 180; and just outside of this wheel, but with a certain space between them,is'fixed on saidshaft another wheel, 114, of the same size. This wheel 114 gearsinto and drives the wheel 139, which is of twice its size, whereby the periphery of this wheel 139 willalso travel at the same speed as the sheets. This wheel 139, which will make but one revolution to each second sheetthat passes, has fixed in it a crank-pin, 176, just half-way between its periphery and its center, and which will thus travel at but half the speed of the sheets. This crank-pin works in a slotted lever, 174, secured to the outer end of the paste-blade sh aft 175, in the space between the two wheels 114 120, and when the crank-pin is passing its lowermost pointit will be in contact with the slotted lever, at a distance just half-way between the center ofthe shaft 175 and the outer edge of the-pasting-blade. This will cause the edge of the pasting-blade to travel at that time at twice the speed of the crankpin-that is, at the same speed as the sheet With which it is at that time in contact and operating to apply its line of paste. As the wheel 139 continues to revolve and brings the paste-blade around under the paste-supplying roller 173, the crank-pin 176 will, on account of the eccentricity of their axes, run out to the extreme outer end of the slotted lever 17 4, and thus cause the paste-blade to move at a very slow speed at that point. The pasteblade is thus brought into contact with and receives a charge of paste from the pasteroller 173, and during this time a second sheet will have passed by the pasting apparatus.

The. paste-roller may be driven in any common manner, but must move at the same speed as the paste-blade while the two are in contact. The paper, while being pasted, is supported by a roller, 170, having a longitudinal groove in its surface. The roller is shown in this case as being just one-fourth the size of the wheel 7 121, which drives it, and the paste-blade will thus always strike overthe groove, so that when, from any cause, there is no sheet upon it to receive the paste, the roller will not be smeared. The paste-blade is cut away, as at 179,'so as to span the tapes 40 116, and thus neither apply paste to them nor cut them. The tapes 40, after passing over the roller 41,

run up over the roller 171, and so on to the roller 111, and thus entirely escape the pasting apparatus. The first sheet, receiving its line of paste, will be carried around upon the surface of the carrier 60, and will receive the second or unpasted sheet upon it, which two sheets, thus associated. together, (in manner heretofore explained,) may be delivered to the carrier 30 to'be folded, as in Figs. 19, 20, 27, 28, 30, 34, and 37, or one or more pairs of sheets thus pasted: and associated may be delivered flat from the accumulating-carrier 60 by the switches 32 and fiy-frame 49, as in Figs. 10, 31, and 35.

To adapt the apparatus so that it will fold each successive sheet received from the print ing-machine, or otherwise delivered to the gripers of the carrier 60, the cam 98 isfixedin its highest 1 position, as shown in Sheet 7, by inserting its holding-screw 9 through a hole in the side frame, which is above'that marked 102, (see Fig. 1,) when its arm 54 will openthe r gripers 4 and 6 as their rock-arms come in con tact with it, and its arm 26 will in like manner operate the gripers 5.

In order that this operation of the apparatus may be clearly understood, the sheets illustrated as undergoingmanipulation are alternately marked A and B. Each sheet received is directed by the tapes onto the carrier 60, where its leading edge will be seized as it enters upon the same by the gripers 5,

operated by the cam 31, to open and receive the'leading end of the sheet, as in Fig. 13,

and closed to clamp the same upon said carrier, as in Fig. 18. Thus seized. and held by Y the gripers, the sheets will be caused to travel around with the carrieruntilapoint is reached between the rollers 41 47 where said carrier is nearest in contact with'the carrier30, when the gripers 4 of the carrier 30, which have been opened as they move into position to intercept the leading. edge of the sheet, as in Fig. 18, by means of the arm 54 of the cam 98, with which the stud or roller 52- on the rock-arm of said gripers engages, will close and seize the edge'of the sheet as the stud or roller 52 passes off said cam-arm 54, as in Fig. 1

operates simply as a means for conveying the sheets it receives to the carrier30. The sheets thus transferred from the gripers 50f the carrier 60 to the gripers 4 of the carrier 30 will I be carried around thereby as the rotation of both carriers proceeds.

The sheet A thus held will be laid on the surface of the carrier 30,.so as to cover the rotary folder 107, as in Figs. 13, 18, and willbe carried onward with said carrier. As the center of the sheet approaches the point 00- cupied by the folding-rollers 66 67, the stud or roller 10 on the forward arm of the 1mtary folder will come into contact with the front side of the flying-cam 17 ,which is .mov-

ing in concert with the carrier 30, and bethereby carried to follow the surface of the lower half of the stationary cam- 19, whereby the folding-blade 14, rocking with its shaft, will be moved outward from the carrier, and en-- tered between the folding-rollers 66 67, carrying with it the sheet A, which will thereby be doubled into said rollers, which will nip its doubled edge, as in Fi 15. An instant before this movement ofthe foldin g-blade is commenced, the stud or roller 52 on the rock-arm of the gripers 4 will,'engaging with the cam 55, open said gripers and release the leading edge of the sheet. The point of the flyingcam 17 then passes over the stud 10 on the arm of the folding-blade, and, by means of its rear side and the upper surface of the stationary' cam 19, will guide the folding-blade 14 inward to its former, but reversed, position in the recess in the cylinder, (see Fig. 17 where it remains until again operated by the flying andstationary cams.

The next sheet, B, entered upon the carrier 60, will be seized by its gripers 5, as in Fig. 18, delivered to the gripers 6 of the carrier 30, be thereby carried around with said carrier, and. doubled into the nip of the folding-rollers 66 67 by .the blade 25 of the rotary folder 108, in like manner as was the preceding sheet, A.

It will be observed that the rotary folders 107.108 are each made double-that is, provided with two folding-blades; and hence, when one blade, as 14 or 24, makes a half- -revolution inthe operation of folding, its companion, as 16 or 25, is brought into the foremost position, and will be the next of its pair to be projected in the folding operation; also, that one, 17, of the flying-cams always operates the blades 14 and 16 of the rotary folder 107, and the other flying-cam, 18, always operates the blades 24 and 25 of the rotary folder 108.

This construction is a desirable one; but the number of rotary folders and fiyin g-cams, and the means for and mode of their operation may be varied, as will hereinafter appear. i

The sheets, emergingfromthe folding-rollers 66 67, will be directed by the conducting-channels 34 35 to the upper set of receiving-rollers .5658, or to the lower set 5759, according'as the switch 36 may be moved into position with the. lower folding-roller 67 or the upper folding-roller 66.

Asthe rotating carrier 30 and the rotary Ifolders it carries are adapted to run at high speed, it is necessary, when the sheets folded thereby through the rollers 66 67 are to. be-

further manipulated by vibrating folders, that they shall be conducted to two such mechanjisms, or to such other number ofrvibrating folders as shall have a capacity equal to the manipulation of the number of sheets which said carrier 30, its rotary folders, and co-op- -erating devices will produce.

. The machine illustrated provides for the folding of four sheets by such vibrating foldrevolution of the carrier 30, and, having been -moved into the position shown in: Fig. 17 to -direct two successive sheets B A to the re- .ceiving-rollers 57 59, will be moved into the position shown in Fig.18, to direct the succeeding pair of sheets 13 A to the delivering- The switch 36 is vibrated once during each rollers 56 58, then, returning to the-position, Fig. 17 will direct the following pair to. the rollers 57 59,.and so on. i

In the arrangement shown, where two successive sheets, B A, are to be directed on over two sets of foldingrollers, as 74 141, and simultaneously folded through the same by a single folding-blade, as 75, it is necessary to provide independent stops which shall register the foremost sheet over the folding-rollers 7 4, and the rearmost sheet over the foldingrollers 141. 4 H

In order that the movement of the sheet B, which is to be folded through'the folding-rollers 74, may not be impeded by the stop 97, which arrests the sheet A in register over the folding-rollers 141, an uninterrupted pathof travel for the sheet'B to the said folding-rollers 74 must be provided. This is ClOIl6, ilS is shown in Figs. 1, 2, ,5, 6, and 17, by means of a lifting-rod, 91, (which will preferably carry a roller,) hung, in arms 92, fast on a shaft which is rocked by means of an arm, 93, and a connecting-rod, 94-, which is reciprocated at proper intervals, by a cam, 95, fixed on the shaft 80, and which cam thus makes one rev-- olution -to every four. sheets received! on the carrier 60. As the leading sheet B of the pair conducted through the channel 35 is emerging from the rollers 57 59, the liftingrod 91 is' caused to rise and elevate the tapes 72 73 toa position above the stop 97, thus providing an uninterrupted path ,of travel for the sheet to its position against the stop 96 and over. the folding-roller 74, as in Fig. 17. When the tail of this sheet B has passed the stop 97, the lifting-rod 911 is dropped, so as to lowerlthe tapes into the position shown in Fig. 18, whereby the second sheet A will be directed against the stop 97 over the folding-rollers 141. r r i As the once-folded sheets emerge firom between the folding rollers 66 67, they occupy but half the space in the direction of their line of travel that they did before being folded,

and consequently there will be a great space between them. The first sheet, B, of the pair sheet A is moved rapidly by the rollers 6667, it follows that the sheet A will gainon the sheet B, so that whenthe formerireaches .the

.rollers 59. 57 and takes their speed of travel, the said sheets will be separated .nofarther apart than is necessary to permit the proper actionof the devices in delivering the sheet B over the rollers 74 and the sheet A- ovler .the rollers 141, and register them against their 

